Pastels, from Millet to Redon

Although the 18th century is generally regarded as the golden age of pastels, the medium experienced a revival between the second half of 19th century and the early 20th century. This exhibition at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris (14 March–2 July) explores how artists such as Millet, Degas, Lévy-Dhurmer, Redon and Mary Cassatt used pastels in innovative ways. Featuring hundreds of pastels from the museum’s own collection, the show is organised into eight sections that include portraiture, landscape and Symbolism. Highlights include Jean-François Millet’s Le Bouquet de Marguerites (The Bouquet of Daisies; 1866) as well as examples from Claude Monet’s Waterloo series (1899–1904), comprising 41 pastel drawings depicting the River Thames, and Odilon Redon’s dream-like Bouddha (1906–07). Find out more on the Musée d’Orsay’s website.

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Dancers (1884–85), Edgar Degas. Photo: © Musée d’Orsay, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais/Patrice Schmidt

Waterloo Bridge, London (1899), Claude Monet. Photo: © Musée d’Orsay, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais/Patrice Schmidt

Le Bouquet de Marguerites (The Bouquet of Daisies; 1866), Jean-François Millet. Photo: Musée d’Orsay; © RMN-Grand Palais (Musée d’Orsay)/Jean-Gilles Berizzi